Holy Modal Rounders

Holy Modal Rounders

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This is a reissue of the first two Holy Modal Rounders records, resequenced according to the artists' original intent and including two unreleased songs from the time of the recording (1963-64). Perhaps the most earsplittingly original duo of the entire folk revival, the Holy Modal Rounders (fiddler-banjoist Peter Stampfel with guitarist Steve Weber) merged the raw energies of rock, traditional American folk, and blues in a weird, whimsical manner (later dunderheadedly termed "acid folk"). The Holy Modal Rounders performed screeching yet subtle versions of old numbers by the likes of Clarence Ashley, Vernon Dalhart, and Uncle Dave Macon, updating tunes like "Hesitation Blues" with a countercultural reference or two (their version of that song contains the first recorded usage of "psychedelic"). This is one of the coolest things about the Rounders--as Stampfel writes in the liner notes, their basic approach to an old tune was to "hear song, forget song, try to remember song while adding your personal wrinkles, bingo!" An irreverent wit pervades the disc, from pop-tune parodies such as "Mr. Spaceman" to their original folk-based songs (which were neither preachy nor ham-fisted--a true rarity in '63) such as "Blues in the Bottle" and "Hey, Hey Baby." The result not only sounds way less corny than anything else from the era, but hews much closer to the raggedly strange, sublime Americana sounds of Charlie Poole, Dock Boggs, and Charley Patton. --Mike McGonigal

Tracks:

Bird Song
One Will Do For Now
Take-Off Artist Song
Werewolf
Interlude
Dame Fortune
Mobile Line
The Duji Song
My Mind Capsized
The STP Song
Interlude 2
Half A Mind
The Pledge

Amazon.com

There're all kinds of outlandish behavior in music, a good deal of which mellows over the years into merely peculiar or boorish art. Really weird, however, is enduring and The Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders is really weird. The sole major-label recording by remnants of acid folkies the Holy Modal Rounders (essentially Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber) and Stampfel's spinoff "rock band" the Moray Eels (which included playwright Sam Shepard), here is an unholy noise that mates the urban-hippie aesthetic of 1968 with a deep-seated love of deep folk music. Jug music for the psychotic segment of the psychedelic set, this 13-song collection is outlandish even by the Rounders' by-now well-established standards. Opening with the nearest thing to a hit the band ever produced--"Bird Song" (familiar to fans of the '60s flick Easy Rider)--the collection tumbles forward like a bad trip across a tremulous American landscape. Think of it as an East Coast cousin of the Mothers of Invention's contemporaneous We're Only in It for the Money. The 2002 reissue boasts entertaining liner notes from Stampfel and Richie Unterberger that will clear up a little of the chaos heard on the disc. But only a little. --Steven Stolder

Album Description

Led by maverick folksters Peter Stampfel & Steve Weber, the Holy Modal Rounders fused Greenwich Village strum & Appalachian drone with enough mind-altering chemicals to derail the Wabash Cannonball. This 1968 masterpiece spotlights such drug-addled ramblings as 'Bird Song', featured in the Easy Rider soundtrack. Remastered & available on CD for the first time. Water Records. 2002.

Album Details

1968 Elektra Album Available on CD for the First Time. Includes the Track 'bird Song' that was Used in the Soundtrack to 'easy Rider'.

Customer Reviews:

Are You normal,? this is nothing for You.......2006-08-16

If You're not prepared before listening this could be a mental schock. The upspeeded combination of amphetamin and LSD makes the music going crazy. This kind of hippie-hallucination shows how sounds from inside a brain can wind up in recorded tracks. How they do it I can't understand. But I love it and realize that even music can be a drug. A healthy one.

sound sound.......2006-03-06

First I got, "good taste is timeless" and it was ok, but not as wacky as the album cover promised. A couple years later, I got this one. This is the album I was looking for and immediately understood my dissapointment in "good taste is timeless" The producer of this album started with the name Barry Friedman, and by the end went by Frazier Mohawk. That should give you some inkling of what you are getting into. Although "The STP Song" (actually titled August, 1967) is cut in half, the destruction of the singular song contributes to the overall aesthetic (I don't really think there is a concept here, aside from lets get these guys in the studio before they forget these songs). The brevity facilitates listening to the album straight through, creating a streaming experience instead of a collection of compositions. Even at 29 minutes Meethmr takes it time, from the ethereal nasal voyage of bird song to the frantic panic of getting a F on your report card, this album is a must.

DU JI.......2003-10-17

My mom gave me a nickel to buy a pickle, I didn't buy a pickle I bought some du ji, du du du du du du-ji how I love du-ji I love to du my du-ji I du du du. Did you ever hear of the Doobie Brothers? Well Stampel and Webber are the Duji Brothers. Buy this Immediately!

truly fine citizens get REALLY wrecked..........2002-11-12

and here's the result. this is one of two holy modal rounders releases that are truly over the edge, the other being indian war whoop, and this one blows war whoop out of the water. listening to this makes me think there is a possibility to the long standing myth that late 60's acid rock/psychedelia was worth the vinyl it was burned on. the first thing you'll notice is: peter stampfel, singer of the bird song, REALLY does sing that way. the second is: beneath all the half assed playing lies some good songs. thirdly: these are funny songs that REALLY are funny (see half a mind & take off artist). the one gripe i have is that its all over much too quickly-this is a short album and those who expect their cd's to have 70+ minutes of music might feel a little gyped. but better 30 great minutes than 70 okay minutes, as i always say. survey says: buy this!

Ridiculous but also Sublime.......2002-08-07

This wonderful album is as weird as everyone says it is, but it also has some truly lovely moments. "One Will Do for Now" sounds almost like a Renaissance madrigal, and "Dame Fortune" is one of the most haunting, sublime songs I've ever heard, from anyone. That's what makes this album extraordinary: the range from sublime moments like these to the ridiculous, but hugely enjoyable, other songs on this album. "That's artiste to you"!

Average customer rating:

Great Music
sweet bluegrass
A correction for a previous reviewer
Fun Joke on Old Time Music
Another example of pointless editing

1 & 2
Holy Modal Rounders
Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders
Have Moicy!
Good Taste Is Timeless
I Make a Wish for a Potato
The Fugs First Album

ASIN: B00000K0XX
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

Blues In The Bottle
Give The Fiddler A Dram
The Cuckoo
Euphoria
Long John
Sugar In The Gourd
Hesitation Blues
Hey, Hey Baby
Reuben's Train
Mr. Spaceman
Moving Day
Better Things For You
Same Old Man
Hop High Ladies
Bound To Lose
Bully Of The Town
Sail Away, Ladies
Statesboro Blues
Clinch Mountain Backstep
Down The Old Plank Road
Black Eyed Suzie
Hot Corn, Cold Corn
Crowley Waltz
Fishing Blues
Junko Partner
Soldier's Joy
Mole In The Ground
Chevrolet Six
Flop Eared Mule

Amazon.com

This is a reissue of the first two Holy Modal Rounders records, resequenced according to the artists' original intent and including two unreleased songs from the time of the recording (1963-64). Perhaps the most earsplittingly original duo of the entire folk revival, the Holy Modal Rounders (fiddler-banjoist Peter Stampfel with guitarist Steve Weber) merged the raw energies of rock, traditional American folk, and blues in a weird, whimsical manner (later dunderheadedly termed "acid folk"). The Holy Modal Rounders performed screeching yet subtle versions of old numbers by the likes of Clarence Ashley, Vernon Dalhart, and Uncle Dave Macon, updating tunes like "Hesitation Blues" with a countercultural reference or two (their version of that song contains the first recorded usage of "psychedelic"). This is one of the coolest things about the Rounders--as Stampfel writes in the liner notes, their basic approach to an old tune was to "hear song, forget song, try to remember song while adding your personal wrinkles, bingo!" An irreverent wit pervades the disc, from pop-tune parodies such as "Mr. Spaceman" to their original folk-based songs (which were neither preachy nor ham-fisted--a true rarity in '63) such as "Blues in the Bottle" and "Hey, Hey Baby." The result not only sounds way less corny than anything else from the era, but hews much closer to the raggedly strange, sublime Americana sounds of Charlie Poole, Dock Boggs, and Charley Patton. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Great Music.......2007-05-19

The previous reviews of these recordings properly give them, in the aggregate, a 5-star rating. However, these reviews do not emphasize sufficiently that the Rounders' renditions of songs, although often wacky, speed-fueled and surrealistic, demonstrate a deep underlying love for, mastery of and creative expansion upon the traditional music and musical styles upon which they were based. The amount of time and energy they spent learning this older music from old recordings is apparent. I don't think they were really "making fun" of this music as much as they were "carrying it to a new place". They were a part of the traditional "folk music process" - taking music that came before, changing it some and making it more "current", and using older musical styles to make new creations. Many of the performances on these recordings were, in this respect, electrifyingly brilliant. No matter how you describe it, this CD contains great music and is at the top of my "must hear" list. By the way, for you bluegrass lovers, the material on this CD is not, by any stretch of the imagination, bluegrass (as some of the earlier reviews stated), but you should buy it anyhow.

sweet bluegrass.......2004-09-03

This is fairly one dimnensional, despite covering two albums. 29 short songs with guitar & Fiddle (less often banjo), some occasionally slightly goofy but more often very effective vocals. This is a little straight folk (a la Woody Guthrie), a little straight country, a little blues, but a good 95% bluegrass/squaredance stylings played at least as well as any "pop" artist. I actually see a lot of Bluegrass music, and have yet to find a modern act that pulls it off this well. If you want to hear some good Bluegrass, older Bill Monroe stuff is good, of course any genuine recordings from Kentucky prior to '65 are key. Otherwise, this is the best thing I've heard.

A correction for a previous reviewer.......2004-01-26

One of the reviewers indicated that "Hesitation Blues" was
written by Robert Johnson. Robert Johnson only recorded 29
songs and this wasn't one of them. The song was written in
1915, before his time, by Art Gillham,Billy Smythe, and
Scott Middleton. In 1925 Gillham did an acoustic session for
Columbia and Hesitation Blues was done in two takes. The song
was made popular by Rev. Gary Davis and later Hot Tuna who
learned it from Rev. Davis. The Rounders probably learned it
from an old Gary Davis record.

Fun Joke on Old Time Music.......2003-12-03

In the album notes and in the reviews on this site, nobody seems to think that the Rounders are cracking a joke on old time music! At least, that what I knew automatically when the first album came out back in the 60's.

It really is fun, and great for beginning flat pickers to practice backing up.

Another example of pointless editing.......2003-09-14

This is a highly welcome reissue, but who decided to trim off Weber saying "Long road a-winding to the land of my dreams" at the beginning of "Long John." And for god's sake: WHY?

Tracks:

Once A Year
Black Bottom
Happy Scrapple Daddy Polka
Spring Of '65
Livin' Off The Land
Love Is The Closest Thing
Boobs A Lot
Melinda
Generalonely
Alligator Man
City Blues
The Whole World Oughta Go On A Vacation

Album Description

FIRST TIME ON COMPACT DISC— After being held for ransom by merciless record collectors for decades, the Holy Modal Rounders' rarest album Good Taste Is Timeless can now breathe the sweet air of freedom! Rounders' founders Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber—the godfathers of anti-folk—fire every cap pistol in their satchel for this clat-tering, jugband-on-acid classic, cut in Nashville in 1971 with guest artists Tracy Nelson (Mother Earth), D.J. Fontana, and pedal steel legend Pete Drake. Featuring the definitive version of Rounders gonzo ditty "Boobs A Lot," Good Taste Is Timeless now sports fascinating new liner notes by Stampfel, and remains the pinnacle of the Holy Modal Rounders' art.

Album Description

CD debut of rare 1971 album from the godfathers of anti-folk, originally produced by Bob Dorough. Sundazed. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Well, It's On CD At Least..........2003-06-25

For starters, if you've heard of that 'horrible mix job' of the original album, that's the mix used here (sounds mono most of the time, but close listening reveals MINIMAL, and I mean minimal stereo separation). In this age, I would have hoped a fully remixed version would have been done, but you can't have everything. Maybe there weren't any tapes available for that purpose? Who knows. Anyway, this is a good album, it's no INDIAN WAR WHOOP or MORAY EELS... but instead it's a twisted country-rock album with occasional relapses of Rounder craziness. If you're not used to the Rounders this may be an odd album for you since other band members take vocals (Stampfel and Weber only get half the album), but on it's own merits, and if one can cast aside the bother of the mixing, GOOD TASTE IS TIMELESS may well prove to be, well, timeless.

Finally the Wait is Over!!.......2003-06-20

When I read the linar notes on this CD I was shocked when Peter Stampfel hinted it might not be his favorite record.I think it's one of the finest Country Western records ever made. A bold statement! I addmit I'm somewhat prejudice having purchased my first copy in 71, wearing it out & finding my second copy in the late 80's @ a record show & wearing it out.This the way C&W should be.It's not the processed, souless stuff from todays C&W radio. It's a toe tapper from begining to end. Fun songs,well written & played. It's in my top 5 C&W records of all time. If you just found the Rounders this is the one to own!!

Average customer rating:

Last Round
Last Round
Euphoria

Last Round
The Holy Modal Rounders
Manufacturer: Genes Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Folk Rock | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders
I Make a Wish for a Potato
1 & 2
Too Much Fun
Good Taste Is Timeless

ASIN: B00004S5FQ
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Tracks:

Euphoria
Poison Sugar
Oriental Lady
The Cold Roll
That Belly I Idolize
August, 1967 (Hippies Call It STP)
If You Want To Be A Bird/Wild Blue Yonder
Pink Underwear
God, What Am I Doing Here?
Sweet William
Romping Through The Swamp
Silly Boys
TV Song
Year Of Jubilo
Snappin' Pussy

Customer Reviews:

Last Round.......2001-08-24

The Holy Modal Rounders put together their best album to date. Withnthe backup of the Clamtones, the music is great with paino, mandolin , fidles and saxes. Remakes of Euphoria, If You Want To Be a Bird, and The STP Song (August 1967) are better than their originals.....Matt Prebluda, KZMU Moab Public Radio.

Last Round.......2001-08-24

Euphoria.......2000-10-04

When you are tired of posturing, inflated bands showing off their toys, come home to the Rounders. No band out there has more fun - they are the Globetrotters of folk music: they will try anything and they are skilled enough to make anything work.

Average customer rating:

Indian War Whoop
The Holy Modal Rounders
Manufacturer: Get Back
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders

ASIN: B00073K7WG
Release Date: 1999-08-11

Tracks:

Jimmy and Crash Survey the Universe
Indian War Whoop
Sweet Apple Cider
Soldier's Joy
Cocaine Blues
Sky Divers
Second-Hand Watch
Radar Blues
I.W.W. Song
Football Blues
Bay Rum Blues
Morning Glory

Average customer rating:

Great Music
sweet bluegrass
A correction for a previous reviewer
Fun Joke on Old Time Music
Another example of pointless editing

Holy Modal Rounders
The Holy Modal Rounders
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders
Have Moicy!
Good Taste Is Timeless
I Make a Wish for a Potato
The Fugs First Album

ASIN: B0000247S0
Release Date: 1998-07-28

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Great Music.......2007-05-19

sweet bluegrass.......2004-09-03

A correction for a previous reviewer.......2004-01-26

Fun Joke on Old Time Music.......2003-12-03

It really is fun, and great for beginning flat pickers to practice backing up.

Another example of pointless editing.......2003-09-14

This is a highly welcome reissue, but who decided to trim off Weber saying "Long road a-winding to the land of my dreams" at the beginning of "Long John." And for god's sake: WHY?

Tracks:

Jimmy and Crash Survey the Universe
Indian War Whoop
Sweet Apple Cider
Soldier's Joy
Cocaine Blues
Sky Divers
Second-Hand Watch
Radar Blues
I.W.W. Song
Football Blues
Bay Rum Blues
Morning Glory

Customer Reviews:

Unique.......2004-09-01

What this is basically is unselfconcious psychedlia mixed with Bluegrass (which is just as noisy as that sounds), with a little touch of more standard "folk" stylings. You could take acid to this. You could square dance to it. You could play it to your buddies and laugh because it's pretty damn funny. You could probably turn Bluegrass fans onto it (although a modern country fan would not be an easy convert!). It's a novelty, sure, but it's also pretty damn good music. fans of the Byrds, or of the Fugs would appreciate this, I bet.

Psychedelic Folk Classic.......2004-08-24

This album is a breath of fresh air for the ears. Out of an era where musical boundaries were being pushed to the limits, this band led the way into new frontiers and remains one of the classics of psychedlia. I didn't know what to make of the music at first listen, but it gets better and better each time I hear it. In the midst of all the craziness are some of the most beautiful although slightly twisted tunes like Radar Blues and Sky Divers. I wouldn't trade this album for all of the top 100 cds currently out. Their next album, The Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders is even better. Do yourself a favor and pick up both of these cds and hear what music was like before it became a product of big business and money replaced love of music as the motivation for releasing albums.

terrible third album from rounders.......2004-07-23

in the cd booklet peter stampfel rates this a 3 on a scale of 10. he's being generous. he also blames it on weber. whatever. this is by far their worst album and a total waste of money. 32 mins. long

Average customer rating:

Whatever happened to the Holy Modal Rounders?

Holy Modal Rounders B.C.
Steve Weber
Manufacturer: Frederick Production
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Clamtones B.C.
The Jig Is Up
Down in Dublin
Live at the Ice House
Last Round

ASIN: B000CRR3IS
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Tracks:

Hippies Call It STP
Moving Day
Black Bottom Blues
My Name is Morgan
Nova
Snake in the Grass
Cocaine Blues
TV Song
Low Down Dog
The Bird Song
Going to Memphis

Customer Reviews:

Whatever happened to the Holy Modal Rounders?.......2006-01-17

This CD documents why the Portland,OR based Holy Modal Rounders grouping, together with the Clamtones, was so wildly popular in the Northwest for nearly two decades after decamping from New York City. You've got to hear it to believe it. It is the rest of the performance from which Jeffrey Frederick and the Clamtones B.C. was taken, from a live show broadcast on the radio in Vancouver, B.C. in 1976 (which, for better or worse meant they had to keep it clean). It's heard to believe that this was remastered from an archival tape -- it sounds as if it had just been recorded yesterday. And the music is 100% today. This CD has the boys playing up a storm, with some amazing picking by Weber. Not only is Steve in top form, but you have Robin "Rube" Remaily (author of "Euphoria", "Four In The Morning" and all kinds of other great tunes), Teddy Deane (who went on to start the Swingline Cubs and now the Play-Rite Boys), Dave Reisch and R. Willy North (Dave and R. Willy still going strong as central members of the Freak Mountain Ramblers nowadays, Rube and Teddy with their own gigs but showing up in Portland from time to time, resurrecting these great songs), Richard Tyler.. wow. "Low Down Dog" is particularly fine, one of Antonia's really great songs. I don't quite know what to call this music -- rollicking big-band folkrock oldtimey jazzy psychotropic Americana fun with a touch of Piedmont blues? A great time is guaranteed for all.

Average customer rating:

Bird Song: Live 1971
The Holy Modal Rounders
Manufacturer: Water
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Holy Modal Rounders B.C.
The Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders

ASIN: B0001HN5CM
Release Date: 2004-05-03

Tracks:

Low Down Dog
Catch Me
Pink Underwear
Boobs A Lot/Willie & The Hand Jive
Bird Song
Pollyanna (Go Sail Around The World) AKA Claudette Ann
Give Me Your Money
Smokey Joe's Cafe

Average customer rating:

Music that makes all other seem pretentious
Best freakin' album
Better Than Ever
The Boys are Back in Town
Surprised!

Too Much Fun
The Holy Modal Rounders
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Folk Rock | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Comedy & Spoken Word | Miscellaneous | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Have Moicy!
Last Round
The Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders
1 & 2
I Make a Wish for a Potato

ASIN: B00000JG25
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Tracks:

Happy Rolling Cowboy
Antoinette
Bad Boy
Violets So Blue
Euphoria
Sail Away Ladies
Penny's Farm
Bonaparte's Retreat
Tea Song
Precious Jewel
A Blues Serenade
Skin Game
Long Journey
Crowley Waltz
Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake
Year Of Jubilo
New John The Revelator

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

The least reverent (and most relevant?) folk group of the last three-plus decades is back with a vengeance, concocting an odd but thoroughly entertaining and delightful foray into acid folk, '60s style. The Rounders' role is to bring some genuine hoots to all-too-staid hootenannies, a task they tackle with infectious zest. --Steven Stolder

Amazon.com

Some guys just never grow up, thank heavens. The Holy Modal Rounders and their misbehaving fellow travelers have been both celebrating and undermining American folk music with unhinged gusto since the early 1960s. (Their debut was recorded the day before President Kennedy's assassination.) Too Much Fun proves that time hasn't tempered founding Rounders Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber, and short-timer Dave Reisch, who joined in 1971. They may be receiving Social Security soon, but they behave as if they've eaten too much sugar during recess. Indeed, these guys bring playtime exuberance to tunes that are as old as the hills, ultimately bringing the songs back to life. The trio's exuberantly off-key vocals may initially prove jarring to the uninitiated, but their sheer musicality and uncanny knack for twisting traditionals into weird and wonderful shapes is ultimately winning. The aptly titled Too Much Joy will stand as one of the best folk albums of 1999. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Music that makes all other seem pretentious.......2006-02-25

Disclaimer; I love the HMRounder Family in all forms (HMR, Michael Hurley, Jeffrey Frederick and Clamtones), but for many years I was content to listen and laugh to the 1976 classic HAVE MOICY! Then I awakened and began exploring all the rest. I have to say my favorites are I MAKE A WISH FOR A POTATO and TOO MUCH FUN! Both are collections of older recordings and remakes and while they overlap and repeat some they are both essential for the tunes they don't share. And while the extended family makes occasional appearance, mostly we get Stampfel and Weber sharing their infectious madness.

These songs make me smile and laugh aloud - poignant, silly, rough and raw, this is music from the heart. I'd recommend the curious start with HAVE MOICY! But the wise shouldn't pass up these new releases.

Best freakin' album.......2005-06-10

Better than earlier Rounders albums? Absolutely, and I'll go one step further. This is the best freakin' album of any kind of music ever. I mean it. Every time I play this thing, it makes me feel like no other music does. When I play it in the car, I'm almost driving off the road from stomping and squawking along. This after having the album for five years! These guys have not an ounce of embarrassment in them, and for that I love them. It's the least pretentious music I've ever heard. I sure hope I'm like Stampfel and Weber when I hit 60...

Better Than Ever.......2004-11-17

Usually new albums by the artists you loved 35 years ago are a disappointment. This one was even better than the earlier ones --both the new songs and the new versions of old ones. The "Bad Boys" song is great!

The Boys are Back in Town.......2001-10-31

The Holy Modal Rounders are back! Returning to the near form of their first two Prestige releases, the Rounders have put together a joyous set of exuberant, foot-stomping revelry. Still interpreting music with one foot in tradition and the other (we're assuming they have two feet) in their own universe, the Modals are modestly transporting us to their reverent yet fun-filled world. Borrowing and updating from the first two classic albums; Euphoria, Sail Away Ladies and Crowley Waltz, plus a few eccentric originals, mixed with renderings of tunes from friends (Robin Remaily and Michael Hurley) and more customary fare from blues, country and old-timey, the pair, with bassist David reisch, still haven't lost the ability to put a smile on your face. When need be, they can play it straight, as in the heart-rendering version of Roy Acuff's Precious Jewel. This record is a very satisfying musical collection of esoterica which comes close to matching the originals in spirit and form. If you want to just kick back and enjoy yourself, you certainly can do no worse than putting this CD in the player.As much as you might, try and stop that grin from appearing after a couple of notes. If you really want to double your pleasure, read the booklet as you listen. Good stuff!

Surprised!.......2000-05-03

I've read lots of glowing reviews about these guys, but I didn't believe it. So I took a chance, and I love it. Although, at first I wasn't so sure. You see, the playing on the album threw me off. I was expecting something else. But thats the whole point. the banjos and guitars and the vocals all sound off the cuff and spontaneous to me. Its so refreshing to here the fun they're having with "euphoria" and others...they are making classics like the old songs they covet from the harry smith anthology. Its so cool after listening to the polished product that prevails in the market. Let's hope the next album takes less time.... somebody give Peter Stampfel a grant !

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Recommended Music:

Essential Big Beat [Import]

Lehár: Die Lustige Witwe/Káláman: Gräfin Mariza [Import]

Ponce: Music for Guitar

Infinity in Sound, Vol. 2

Pay Pack & Follow [Import]

On the Attack [Clean]

Peace

No Flood [Explicit Lyrics]

Paradise in the Moonlight

Llego La India: Via Eddie Palmieri

Peace

Music of Greece [Import]

Night Fever [Import]

Mozart: Piano Sonatas

Shostakovich: Jazz Suites Nos. 1 & 2 [Hybrid SACD]